sailing yacht nikata

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NIKATA yacht NOT for charter*

35m  /  114'10 | baltic yachts | 2015.

Owner & Guests

Cabin Configuration

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Multi-award winning
• Interior design from Nauta Yachts
• Sleeps 8 overnight
• 6.3m/20'8" Xtenders RIB

The multi-award winning 35m/114'10" motor yacht 'Nikata' was built by Baltic Yachts in Finland at their Jakobstad shipyard. Her interior is styled by American designer design house Nauta Yachts and she was delivered to her owner in December 2015. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Nauta Yachts.

Guest Accommodation

Nikata has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 8 guests in 4 suites comprising one VIP cabin. She is also capable of carrying up to 5 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Range & Performance

Nikata is built with a GRP hull and GRP superstructure, with teak decks. Nikata reaches a maximum speed of 11 knots.

*Charter Nikata Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Nikata is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

Nikata Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Nikata Photos

Nikata Awards & Nominations

• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2016 Exterior Design & Styling Award: Sailing Yachts Winner
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2016 Interior Design Award: Sailing Yachts Winner
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2016 Naval Architecture Award: Sailing Yachts Winner
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2016 Holistic Design Award Winner
• The World Superyacht Awards 2016 Sailing Yachts 30m to 39.99m Winner
• International Superyacht Society Awards 2016 Best Sail 24m - 40m Winner

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y Nikata

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NIKATA // Baltic Yachts

The new high-performance cruiser/racer by baltic yachts nikata hits 28 knots on the log during her transatlantic maiden voyage to the caribbean..

Pictures by Guido Cantini

The very modern lines come from the drawing boards of judel/vrolijk  yacht design studio in Bremerhaven, Germany. The interior (no photos yet) Nauta work. The machinery mounts have been redesigned to reduce vibration.

Nikata was built for both family cruising and racing. Baltic equipped her with high-speed winches and an advanced barber hauling system for the headsail. To reach smaller anchor bays, the yacht has a lifting keel by APM to reduce the draft from 5.85m to 3.65m.

The Nauta designed fold-out bathing platform with stairs enables easy access to the sea from the large cockpit.

Main Specifications og NIKATA

SHARING IS CARING - THANK YOU!

Infiniti 105 with dss foil, all smoke // reichel/pugh // southern wind, car brands with influences in yachting, canova // baltic 142 with dss foil, contest 55 cs, cool breeze – brenta 80 dc by michael schmidt yachtbau, nami 78 // nicolò piredda, y8 // y yachts.

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Nikata Nautor's Swan | From EUR€ 28,000/wk

• Inspiration

Nikata has 45 Photos

THE MEDITERRANEAN

Nikata news.

St Barths Bucket 2017: 30th edition ...

Similar yachts, sailing wally 77.4 carrera | from us$ 28,000/wk.

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Nikata Nautor's Swan | From EUR€ 28,000 /wk

Luxury performance yacht NIKATA was designed by renowned international yacht designer German Frers in 2005 and measures 24.9 meters (82ft), she can accommodate eight guests in 4 cabins.

NOTABLE FEATURES: ~ Proven record participating in sailing racing & regattas ~ Alfresco dining ~ Modern interior ~ Spacious living spaces ~ Swim platform

NIKATA is a true thoroughbred yacht designed for long distance cruising in absolute comfort and is also ideal as a luxury charter yacht. She sails gracefully in only six knots of breeze thanks to her powerful performance hull and carbon fibre rig. As the winds strengthen, she provides exhilarating performance and responsiveness.

This superyacht boasts a semi-raised saloon and has a light, stylish and practical interior of fine satin hand rubbed teak woods and cream leather soft furnishings. The salon and dining space is slightly raised and receives plenty of natural light and is an open plan with a sofa on the starboard side and formal dining to port.

Below decks, there is spacious and functional living area is designed with typical Swan elegance. She is able to accommodate up to 8 guests in 4 cabins including two doubles and two twins. Each cabin has en-suite facilities complete with luxurious bathrobes, towels and toiletries. There are also individual flat screen TV’s and music centres fitted in every cabin, and PlayStation 2’s will help to entertain children. The crew accommodation is separate, located forward of the galley.

Nikata Specifications

S/Y NIKATA offers guests ample space to enjoy, an alfresco dining option is forward and separate from the helm stations, making the area uncluttered and free to use at any time while underway. Aft, the deck, extends and leads down to a fold-out swim platform, which has heaps of teak space perfect for sunning, relaxing or simply enjoying the scenery.

NIKATA has a beam of 5.79 meters (19ft) and draft of 4.24 meters (13.9ft) and cruises comfortable at 10 – 12 knots. Whether you are interested in a luxury yacht charter with family or friends, you can be assured of the very best care and attention to detail from 4 fully qualified crew members. It is possible to get involved and help with sailing yacht NIKATA under supervision from the captain or if you prefer, simply relax and leave everything to the crew. Enquire now.

Yacht Charter Accommodation

Sailing yacht NIKATA offers guests accommodation in 2 double and 2 twin cabins, the master cabin is aft and full beam of the yacht with a double bed and 2 sofas, a further 2 twin cabins are amidships and a double cabin is slightly forward of the twins to port. All cabins have en-suite facilities and entertainment systems.

Charter Amenities and Extras

Aboard the sailing yacht NIKATA are some great amenities and extras including a Tender with outboard, Various Water Sport Toys, Cell Phone, Fax, Wi-Fi / Internet, SATCOM, SAT TV, DVD Library, CD Library, DVD, Stereo, Play station 2. Communications Nikata has extensive computer connectivity and communication systems for you to keep in touch with the outside world should you wish. * GSM/GPRS car phone Nokia 810, connected to Shakespeare 5412-S antenna and computer. * Sat phone Iridium Motorola 9505A including connection to computer. * Fax machine (printer, fax, scanner) HP 4215 Office Jet. * Sat Com Fleet 33 Thrane & Thrane TT-3088A for Voice/Fax. Data interface connected to onboard computer. * Handheld VHF Axis 50 GMDSS, 2 pcs, including converter and chargers at chart table inside locker. Audio Visual Equipment and Deck Facilities * Home entertainment system (DVD/CD/AM/FM) in saloon, Bose Lifestyle 38 with integrated hard drive and with five cube speakers mounted in ceiling and woofer in saloon table, multi regional above and below deck sound system. Sky sat TV receiver. Installation of TV outlets in six cabins * Widescreen LCD TV, Sharp LC-32GA5E 30" with PAL/SECAM (European) tuner, in saloon. * LCD TV Sharp 20" LC-20SH1E with PAL/SECAM (European) tuner: - One in aft cabin ceiling mount - One in aft midships cabin on SB side. * LCD TV, Sharp 15" LC-15SH1E with PAL/SECAM (European) tuner: - One in forward cabin - One in forward midships port cabin - One in aft midships cabin on port side.

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This document is not contractual. The yacht charters and their particulars displayed in the results above are displayed in good faith and whilst believed to be correct are not guaranteed. CharterWorld Limited does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information and/or images displayed. All information is subject to change without notice and is without warrantee. A professional CharterWorld yacht charter consultant will discuss each charter during your charter selection process. Starting prices are shown in a range of currencies for a one-week charter, unless otherwise marked. Exact pricing and other details will be confirmed on the particular charter contract. Just follow the "reserve this yacht charter" link for your chosen yacht charter or contact us and someone from the CharterWorld team will be in touch shortly.

Nikata Enquiry

"Nautor’s Swan has close to half a century of experience designing and building exceptional sailing yachts. Nautor's skilled craftsmen at the company's yard in Pietarsaari, Finland come from generations of boat boat builders. From the most traditional woodworking details to leading edge lamination technology, a Swan combines the best elements available today to build the world's best sailing yacht, for true sailors." - Nautor Swan

Motor Sailor Vera | From EUR€ 28,000/wk

MARELLA | From EUR€ 28,000/wk

HAPARANDA | From NZ$ 28,000/wk

Call Us: +44 121 285 8010

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• Nauta yachts announce maiden voyage of Baltic 115!

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Motor Yacht

Aggressive deck and hull lines, speed, important sail area, relatively light displacement (88 tons!): ready for racing.

Elegant, comfortable while at anchor as well as while sailing, simple, well-trimmed in her style, provided with every comfort: for high-class cruises. These are the two souls of the new 115’ sailing yacht project by Nauta Design and by Judel-Vroljik. Though conflicting at a first sight, they’ve been finally turned into an exquisite marriage.

This 35 mt. L.O.A. sloop, in built at Baltic Yachts in Finland, the worldwide renowned Shipyard specialized in hi-tech constructions, comes out as the fruit of a successful meeting between a highly experienced regattas-winner very demanding client, the Italian designers and German naval architects, whose experiences are well proven by many stunning projects.

Since the first briefing the challenge was extremely interesting for Nauta, binding with some ‘key’ demands concerning performances, elegance, comfort.

A work of fine tuning which engaged Nauta Design for general concept, exterior styling and interior design, and Judel-Vroljik, for the Naval Architecture. The two studios have already fruitfully worked in synergy on a 116’ blue-water cruising yacht currently under construction at Baltic too.

The client’s request to race successfully in several regattas will be accomplished thanks to a very high performance hull, which is the result of a thorough CFD study, in addition the use of pre-preg carbon sandwich, a powerful sailplan and remarkable stability - achieved through the 5.85 mt. draft of the keel (3.65 mt. with the keel completely lifted).

At the same time the yacht offers the most exigent guests some interior elements which are normally the characteristics of yachts in a higher L.O.A. range: the saloon, extremely bright despite the flush-deck roof thanks to the wide top and side windows, a “professional” bar area, an extremely comfortable chill-out/tv area, four spacious guest cabins, with a large and elegant Owner’s cabin, three comfortable cabins for crew including the Captain’s double cabin, the functional and spacious galley.

On the exteriors the pure racers will be happy to find race oriented hardware and systems as in example the transversal hydraulically controlled jib sheeting which allows not only fore and aft but also inboard/outboard jib trimming.

At the same time the Owner family and friends will enjoy the huge sunbed areas and luxury comfort features such as the opening transom, which is designed to be the “grand entrance” for guests as they are welcomed on board, and a relaxing area equipped with fridge and showers.

The interiors features low weight furniture with composite panels covered with thin veneer. The styling is simple, essential and intriguing, with a smooth chromatic balance and a deep feeling of calm transmitted to the guests through the gentle combination of oak wood and light coloured linen panels.

Baltic Yachts have entrusted worldwide known Van Cappellen for a major study in order to minimize noise levels on board, that resulted in a masterfully conceived acoustic insulation. The depth of knowledge and experience of Nigel Ingram from MCM, acting as the Owner’s Project Manager, is a further important contribution to the team.

This is the third Nauta project built by Baltic Yachts, and now the studio is ready to face the future with many stunning designs in their records, full of motivations and new ideas already in progress.

• Yacht Builder Baltic Yachts No profile available
• Naval Architect Judel / Vrolijk & Co. View profile
• Exterior Designer Nauta Design View profile
• Interior Designer Nauta Design View profile

Yacht Specs

Other baltic yachts, related news.

• motor yachts
• sailing yachts

Baltic Nikata

Baltic Nikata 115’

The newly launched Baltic 115’ Nikata, the latest all-carbon custom performance racer/cruiser designed by Nauta Design in collaboration with judel/vroljik & co, has lived up to the promise of her sleek and fast looks completing her first Atlantic crossing at speeds that topped at 28.8 knots.

This dramatically elegant, sleek, silver-hulled 88 ton yacht was built for an owner who is an experienced yachtsman with many high profile regatta wins under his belt. He had a demanding and challenging brief for Nauta Design and Project Manager Nigel Ingram: a beautiful yacht built for speed and elegance in safety and comfort. Nikata has proved to be all that he wished for.

Nikata is the third Nauta Design project built by Baltic Yachts, the renowned Finnish shipyard specialized in hi-tech carbon construction. Nauta Design contributed the general concept, exterior styling and interior design while naval architects judel/vroljik & co designed the hull and waterlines after extensive performance optimizing VPP studies. The Owner’s Project Manager, Nigel Ingram from MCM, also made an important contribution to the Nikata team. The same team recently collaborated successfully on the 116’ blue-water cruiser Doryan, launched in early 2015. Gurit was responsible for the structural engineering.

The Owner already had a regatta agenda in mind and wanted an innovative and competitive yacht with winning potential. Nikata’s performance hull is in pre-preg carbon sandwich and has aggressive lines optimized for speed after extensive CFD tests. The yacht has a relatively light displacement of 88 tons, a powerful sail plan and remarkable stability thanks to a lifting keel that extends from 3.65 m to 5.85 m.

The low, streamlined deckhouse is Nauta Design’s latest definition of the shape of performance racer/cruisers. The glossy, iron grey metallic hull colour and the softer silver grey of the deckhouse set off the natural teak deck for a stylish, contemporary look that remains sporty and seafaring.

Sportsmen will be happy to find top notch racing hardware and systems on deck such as transversal hydraulically controlled jib sheeting for both fore/aft and inboard/outboard jib trimming.

Nikata’s interiors offer luxuries usually found only on larger, less sport-orientated yachts. The coachroof is flush-deck but the saloon is light and bright thanks to top and side windows. There is a professional bar area for relaxing after racing and a comfortable chill-out/TV area for recovering. All fittings and furnishings are in lightweight yet durable composite panels veneered in oak and upholstery and wall panels are in light coloured linen for a style that is simple and pared down yet elegant and soothing to the eye.

Cabins include a large and elegant Owner’s cabin and three spacious guest cabins. Crew areas include a functional and spacious galley, a double cabin for the Captain, two other cabins and a comfortable crew mess. The “Owner forward” layout places all crew and operational areas aft so that crew and guest areas are kept separate and the crew can have quick access from interior to deck and vice versa.

When Nikata is not racing, her Owner and his family and friends can enjoy huge sunbed areas and the ingenious fold-out stern platform. This feature was engineered and designed by Nauta and built by Baltic to incorporate a wide set of steps along with a swimming area so that guests can reach the main deck and large cockpit with ease. In the stowed position this teak-laid platform seamlessly becomes part of the aft deck.

Baltic Yachts brought Van Cappellen Consultancy to the project for their masterful soundproofing. After her thrilling Atlantic crossing, Nikata is now in the Caribbean well in advance of her scheduled regatta debut.

World Superyacht Awards Motivation: Exterior Design & Styling Award

Showboats Design Awards motivation: Exterior Design & Styling Award Interior Layout & Design Award Naval Architecture Award Holistic Design Award

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All photos by Guido Cantini

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NIKATA is a 35.0 m Sail Yacht, built in Finland by Baltic Yachts and delivered in 2015.

She can accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 staterooms, with 5 crew members waiting on their every need. She has a gross tonnage of 141.0 GT and a 8.07 m beam.

She was designed by Nauta Design , who also designed the interior. Nauta Design has designed 47 yachts and designed the interior of 62 yachts for yachts above 24 metres.

The naval architecture was developed by Judel/Vrolijk & Co , who has architected 19 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Carbon Fibre hull, and Carbon Fibre superstructure.

NIKATA is in the top 30% by LOA in the world. She is one of 212 sailing yachts in the 35-40m size range.

NIKATA is currently sailing under the United Kingdom flag, the 4th most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 899 yachts registered. She has recently entered the superyacht marina Ponta Delgada Marina, in Portugal. For more information regarding NIKATA's movements, find out more about BOAT Pro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: NIKATA
• Yacht Type: Sail Yacht
• Builder: Baltic Yachts
• Naval Architect: Judel/Vrolijk & Co
• Exterior Designer: Nauta Design
• Interior Designer: Nauta Design

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Designing Success

Following the rapturous reception of m/y azzam, nauta yachts continues with baltic-built nikata.

The design team around Mario Pedol at Nauta Yachts is enjoying a seemingly unstoppable run of form of late, with a cavalcade of exciting yacht projects underway after the much-lauded Azzam garnered the studio plaudits far and wide recently.

From the huge Lürssen-built Azzam (currently the world’s largest motor yacht, at 180 metres), to the Loro Piana Cup-winning Baltic-built sailing yacht Nilaya and the new multi award-winning sailing yacht Nikata, also a Baltic build, the studio is cementing its work as that of consistent performance and innovation.

Take Nauta’s designs for the Finnish yard Baltic; a three model range of sailing yachts that each embody the Milanese studio’s virtues. Cup-winner Baltic 112 Nilaya, launched in 2010 and boasts a carbon/aramid prepreg composite core-cell foam construction. In 2015, blue water cruiser 116 Doryan brought things to a leisurely pace, and new member of the family, the 2016-launched  Baltic 115 Nikata, features an extended deckhouse and lightweight full carbon sandwich construction that allows a crossing of her Atlantic stomping grounds at speeds over 28.8knots. Dynamic projects from a designer to watch.

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HALF A CENTURY OF WORLD CLASS YACHT BUILDING

28 june 2023.

In just five decades Baltic Yachts has evolved from respected series production boat builder to the world’s best composite custom yacht manufacturer, the go-to yard for innovation, performance and a hand-crafted finish second to none.

Baltic Yachts has become firmly established as one of the best superyacht builders in the world, renowned for its comprehensive knowledge of advanced composite building materials and its skilled workers’ ability to innovate with the latest materials and technology.

The company has achieved this in just 50 years and celebrations are now underway to mark its foundation and recognise its success through the 566 boats it has built.

In the modern era, names like Visione, Nilaya, Hetairos, Pink Gin, Nikata, WinWin, Perseverance and Canova dominate the world’s regatta podiums and awards ceremonies and with the company’s latest launches, including the Baltic 110 Zemi and the ground-breaking, Baltic 111 Custom, it maintains its dominance at the leading edge of superyacht sailing technology.

The significance of Queen Anne

As Baltic Yachts prepares to celebrate its foundation in Bosund in 1973, with a party for 500 including our workers, local partners and international guests at its Jakobstad headquarters, it’s appropriate that the very first yacht it built, the C&C-designed Baltic 46 Diva, now Queen Anne, will also be in attendance along with her owner and the owners and friends of the recently launched Baltic 110 Zemi. Queen Anne underwent a refit in Bosund, the place of her birth, and with a new engine, freshly painted topsides, new hatches, a refurbished teak deck and updated instrumentation, is almost as good as new.

Baltic 46 Queen Anne (originally named Diva) – the first ever Baltic yacht

Her presence is doubly significant because she not only demonstrates the sustainability of yachts Baltic built 50 years ago, using what was then the latest boat building technology like balsa sandwich construction, unidirectional glass fibre and tank tested design, but she also illustrates the story of Baltic’s foundation.

In the beginning…

In 1973, superyachting, the genre with which we are familiar today, was non-existent, but series production boat building was really getting into its stride. One of its leading proponents, Nautor Swan, based in Jakobstad, was successfully building yachts for a growing global market and had established an enviable reputation.

Despite this, a small group of the company’s young boat builders had devised ways of building boats lighter and stiffer to improve performance. They tried to convince their managers at Nautor it was the way ahead, but their ideas fell on deaf ears.

Convinced their theories would work, five young men, Per-Göran ‘PG’ Johansson, Tor Hinders, Nils Luoma, Ingmar Sundelin and Jan-Erik Nyfelt struck out on their own, setting up Baltic Yachts in the small village of Bosund just north of Jakobstad.

The first shed in the pine forest outside the village of Bosund

Generations of skilled workers

Why Bosund? It is no coincidence that modern yacht building of the highest standard continues to thrive in the area of Finland known as Ostrobothnia. Generations of skilled wood-workers built warships and trading vessels as long ago as the 16 th Century, supporting Finland and Sweden’s vast fleets of ships which travelled the world. Seafaring was part of the local population’s DNA and plentiful local timber made the area a natural choice for ship building.

In many ways those traditions are still very much in evidence and in 1973 the most important resource for the fledgling Baltic Yachts was a skilled local workforce. The Baltic Yachts Family came into being and now aged 50 is very much alive and well!

It was a tough winter start, snow falling relentlessly as the new company built its first boatshed. But their first model, the ambitious 46-footer Diva already described, reflected everything Baltic’s founders stood for – she was comparatively light, stiff and fast and was selected for the Canadian Admiral’s Cup team in 1975.

Boom time at the Hamburg Boat Show

The Hamburg Boat Show was a key outlet for Baltic in the early days with 15 sales in 1975 followed by 26 the following year. Although series production was the business model which underpinned Baltic’s early success, there were already signs of customisation and in Thomas Friese’s C&C-designed Baltic 42 Tina I-Punkt it was all-embracing. She was an out and out racing yacht designed to the IOR (International Offshore Rule) to fit the so-called Two Ton rating band (I.O.R. Rating under 32ft) which was particularly popular and successful at the time in the USA and in Europe. This heavily customised yacht was a sign of things to come.

But even PG and his team couldn’t have foreseen the phenomenal success of the Baltic 39 which sold out at its premiere in Hamburg in 1977 and went on to become the company’s most successful design in terms of numbers, with 74 sold. Her designers, Cuthbertson and Cassian (C&C) and their chief naval architect, the late Rob Ball, had impressed PG Johansson because of their use of VPP (velocity prediction program) computer calculations and other advanced design techniques which mirrored PG’s own belief in improving yachts with modern methods.

Baltic 39 – our first major commercial success

The International Offshore Rule resulted in yachts which, like the Baltic 39, were particularly fast upwind, but like many racing yachts of this era, were fully fitted out and made excellent family cruising yachts too. Combined with the quality of build these were very effective selling points.

The Hollming era

In the late 1970s the new company was dealt a body blow by the global oil crisis and sought a new owner. The giant ship builder Hollming Oy believed in Baltic’s approach and provided the resources to support its rapid growth, fund the development of new models and build a sales organisation. Baltic Yachts would remain part of Hollming for 12 years and during this period was famously asked by its owner to assist in the development of a secret Russian submarine by providing input for its composite shell structure. Despite some political controversy over the project, it was a productive exercise, the vacuum-infused, epoxy resin technology directly benefitting the build of the Baltic 43 Bully.

Expansion, masts and Midnight Sun

A combination of factors in the late 70s and early 80s saw Baltic advance dramatically as carbon fibre was first used. The new Baltic 51 showcased many of the technical developments the company had evolved using computer aided design and engineering. And in Bosund a new building hall was opened, vastly increasing production capacity and enabling much larger yachts to be built.  All sorts of innovation was in evidence, including pneumatically-powered cradles which would allow yachts to be moved effortlessly across the super-smooth floors of the new facility.

Baltic’s policy of drilling down into design and developing its own specification and checks for construction was not only beneficial for the quality of its yachts, but also impressed clients who were increasingly keen to get involved to learn how their yachts were built. They were actively encouraged to visit the yard to see their yacht under construction, something some other builders discouraged.

Baltic’s approach to design enabled the company to start building its own masts around 1980, their black anodised finish becoming a hallmark. The ability to build on site and on time greatly assisted production.

Baltic Yachts mast production (first picture) and Baltic 80 Midnight Sun (second picture), one of the first large, fully composite racing yachts in the world

By the 1980s there were clear signs that clients were looking at bigger and faster yachts with the associated need for complete customisation. The Baltic 80 Midnight Sun was the first fully composite racing yacht in the world, built as an IOR maxi for a Swedish owner who wanted to move on from successful Admiral’s Cup campaigns. Built using a super-light end grain balsa core in her hull she was quick upwind and enjoyed success on the maxi circuit before being converted into a luxury cruising yacht.

Lisbeth Staffans takes the helm

A need to return to their core business forced the Hollming Group to dispose of Baltic Yachts in 1990 which led to a management and employee buyout which saw 34 managers and workers including PG Johansson and Jan Erik Nyfelt immediately becoming owners of the business. The existing marketing manager Lisbeth Staffans (picture below) became managing director.

Her style of management, driven by straightforward communication, honesty and transparency across the business, plus strict financial controls, returned the yard to profitability. Lisbeth Staffans led the company for 18 years during which time Baltic Yachts went from strength to strength and took it to the cusp of the game changing era of modern superyachting.

One of the first genuine multi-role supersailing yachts which took part in the increasingly popular superyacht regattas springing up in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, was Anny, an 87ft all-carbon yacht from the board of judel/vrolijk. The German naval architect had already designed numerous Baltic production models prefacing a future in which they would become key, especially in larger superyachts.

With her lifting keel, extensive hydraulic systems and tender garage, Anny could be regularly seen at the front of superyacht racing fleets, particularly in Palma de Mallorca. She remained successful for many years.

Demand for the dual-role superyacht

The burgeoning superyacht regatta scene, many of the new ones trying to emulate the success of the St Barths Bucket in the Caribbean, offered a new dimension to ownership with many demanding a genuine dual-role yacht, one equally at home on the race course as crossing oceans and visiting the world’s remotest cruising grounds. This provided a great opportunity for builders of large sailing yachts, one which Baltic grasped with enthusiasm.

Anny was followed in the later 1990s by the Bill Dixon designed Vittfarne and the Baltic 70 Loftari, the former a classic looking yacht above the waterline with a high-performance underwater shape and the latter with an entirely pre-preg carbon and Nomex interior which demonstrated how large amounts of weight could be saved by building ultra-lightweight interiors.

Baltic 70 Loftfari was the first yacht with a fully fitted interior built entirely in prepreg carbon and Nomex

Baltic Yachts has built a number of motor yachts and while it cannot be regarded as a regular part of its portfolio a lot of information was gained about sound deadening which transferred to sailing yachts to great effect. The Raymond Hunt-designed M48 Far Niente and her slightly larger sistership Ben Nevis were powerful seagoing motor yachts delivered in the late 90s. Baltic later built the Mani Frers-designed M78 Bill and Me, a stylish offshore motor yacht.

Baltic at the leading edge of technology

By the turn of the century advances in technology were gaining even greater pace, exemplified by the Baltic 78 Super Baltic 5 which sported a canting rather than lifting keel, an additional benefit of which was virtually no loss of internal space, as the hydraulic canting mechanism was contained almost entirely beneath the cabin sole.

High-tech cruiser-racer Baltic 78 Super Baltic 5

At the yard the company installed a 5m X 3m lamination press which meant they could custom build composite parts like bulkheads and interior components to its own specification ensuring that weight savings could be made without compromising strength or durability.

Iconic Visione

And then, in 2002, an iconic commission was secured to build the extraordinary and technically advanced Baltic 147 Visione. With naval architecture by Reichel Pugh and all the design and engineering capacity at Baltic Yachts coming to the fore, Visione became a marker by which many subsequent performance superyachts were judged. Even today, 22 years after her launch, she is still capable of winning.

To say Visione was ahead of her time is an understatement. She remains a development project to this day, and has been updated and used as a testbed for a multitude of new ideas and technological breakthroughs. In a way she fired the starting gun for the race to build new superyachts, a plethora of which followed from Baltic driven by technology which made them easier to sail, faster, more competitive and more fun!

Baltic 147 Visione (first picture) and Baltic 141 Canica (second picture)

The first genuine supercruiser was the 141ft Canica, a complex yacht using all the advanced composite building experience accumulated by Baltic’s design engineers resulting in a yacht displacing half that of a typical 140-footer – and there was no compromise on comfort. She was the first yacht with a Siemens PLC computer control system and to reduce vibration and noise levels her entire accommodation was set on shock absorbers so that, in effect, it ‘floated’ within the hull shell.

A waterside home in Jakobstad

Ten years into the new century Baltic Yachts realised its dream of its own waterside premises. The Jakobstad yard was a state-of-the-art building which enabled larger yachts to be built and reduced the complex and expensive trucking operation from Bosund 23km away. It also provided deep water access for yachts returning to Finland for a refit.

Baltic Yachts waterfront facility in Jakobstad

This development went hand in hand with the yard becoming the first of its type in the world to achieve ISO standards in quality, environment and occupational health and safety. Baltic Yachts was also awarded full DNV GL certification giving customers peace of mind over the performance of all aspects of the building operation.

2010 saw the launch of the highly successful Reichel/Pugh designed Baltic 112 Nilaya, which epitomised the superyacht racer/cruiser genre many owners sought. The yacht won almost every regatta she entered benefitting from grand prix pedigree design combined with Baltic’s exacting engineering and build standards designed to save weight. In short, Nilaya was an all-round winner.

The Professor provides stability and vision

Shortly into the new decade, new owners for the company were sought as the shareholding staff began to retire. In March 2013 Professor Hans Georg Näder, a keen yachtsman and a Baltic customer acquired an 80 per cent stake in the company through his family-owned prosthetics company Ottobock.

Professor Hans Georg Näder and PG during the christening of Baltic 175 Pink Gin

Professor Näder’s enthusiasm and vision was a shot in the arm for the company and he eventually increased his stake to become sole owner ensuring Baltic Yachts’ financial independence and solvency. He also appointed Henry Hawkins as Executive Vice President, a former yacht captain who brought a wealth of sailing knowledge and industry contacts to Baltic.

A presence in Palma – superyachting’s service capital

Not long afterwards, the first moves to establish a Service and Refit base in Palma de Mallorca got underway. Service and the need to look after everyone in what had now become a large Baltic Family became high on the company’s agenda. Today, the Palma operation is a vital part of Baltic Yachts providing refit, modifications and almost any service requirement in the heart of the western Mediterranean’s superyacht action.

For the next 12 years a succession of remarkable yachts was launched, many of which became award winners while others dominated the superyacht race courses of the world. Hetairos remains one of the most spectacular modern sailing yachts ever launched, her neo-classic styling hiding a phenomenal performance made possible by full carbon composite construction and a massive ketch rig with a mizzen sailplan almost as powerful as the main. An enormous lifting keel and a cassette style lifting rudder were examples of the advanced engineering required to make this yacht a success.

The Baltic 115 Nikata was a highly successful, stylish multi-role superyacht taking part in the RORC’s iconic Fastnet and Caribbean 600 races and the Middle Sea Race while providing a superb platform in cruising mode. At 130ft My Song was a study in exterior and interior design and as much at home on the race course as crossing oceans, while the Javier Jaudennes designed WinWin accumulated almost as much silverware as Nilaya.

A mix of Pink Gins

A string of Pink Gins built by Baltic saw the latest iteration, Pink Gin VI, launch in 2017. She is still the largest carbon fibre sloop in the world and notable for some advanced structural engineering which enables two large fold-down platforms to be set into her topsides, the forward one providing the owner’s cabin with a magnificent private balcony and swimming platform.

Baltic 175 Pink Gin – the largest full carbon sloop in the world

By 2018, technical advances in sailing were moving at such a pace that design features normally seen on much more performance-orientated yachts were now being considered at superyacht scale. Baltic Yachts’ ability to meet the challenges these design innovations set made it a natural choice for customers looking for something special.

First foil-assisted superyacht

In the Baltic 142 Canova, the world saw the first foil-assisted superyacht using a Dynamic Stability System (DSS) sliding foil set athwartships in a cassette beneath the owner’s cabin. When deployed to leeward the 9m long foil provided lift to reduce heel and also dampen pitching motion.

Baltic 142 Canova – the first ocean cruising superyacht with a DSS foil

  The yacht was also one of the first to be fitted with an electric propulsion motor, large banks of lithium-ion batteries and the ability to charge them using her free-wheeling propeller while sailing. This reduced the use of internal combustion engines for propulsion and charging, cut emissions and took a large step towards improving the ‘green’ credentials of superyachts.

The move to power yachts with electric motors, big battery banks and the propeller-driven hydrogeneration developed by Baltic Yachts and its partners, has rapidly gained pace in recent years although in 2020 the company launched the Baltic 146 Path which opted for a conventional drive train. This yacht’s construction was complicated by the devastating COVID pandemic but she was launched to schedule and kept the company going over a difficult two-year period.

Apart from her sheer size – the third largest yacht by volume built by Baltic – Path had a remarkable combined deck saloon and covered cockpit the hardtop ‘bimni’ for which was also a landing for the largest array of solar panels ever seen on a sailing yacht.

Testbed for technology

Two smaller semi-production yachts were also gaining in popularity at this time. The Baltic 68 Café Racer was conceived as a testbed for sustainable build materials and rig technology designed to make a high-performance yacht easier to sail for a short-handed crew. Naturally grown flax instead of carbon was used as a reinforcement in 50per cent of the hull and deck mouldings, a swept spreader Marstrom rig and Doyle Sails’ Structured Luff technology were used to improve performance and simplify sailing, while cork decks and twin electric motors all combined to provide a glimpse of what, in the future, might be the norm.

Baltic 68 Café Racer Pink Gin Verde – hull number one in our latest semi-custom series

The third Baltic 67PC, Freedom, was launched last year, a different take on a series production hull designed to speed up build time and control costs. The 67 also provides an opportunity for highly efficient shorthanded, long-distance sailing and offers a multitude of interior layouts and finishes.

Modern classics are occasionally commissioned, their looks often belying the use of the very latest in superyachting technology. The Baltic 117 Perseverance is no exception, her elegant lines, straight stem, long counter and deep bulwarks giving the impression of a vessel from another era. But she has electric propulsion, hydro-generation, optimised pump technology and her superlight hull and easy to manage rig make her a very potent sailing yacht.

Luxury world class cruiser – Baltic 110 Zemi

Epitome of the modern superyacht

Just launched and available for viewing at Baltic Yachts’ Anniversary party is the stunning looking Baltic 110 Zemi, the second yacht built by the company to a Malcolm McKeon design. Her metallic bronze hull is complemented by a stunning teak deck and superstructure while her systems represent the very latest in superyacht design and engineering. She is the epitome of a fast, luxurious world class cruiser with serious racing potential.

Baltic 111 Custom – in a class of her own

It is perhaps entirely appropriate that Baltic Yachts’ 50 th Anniversary Party coincides with the near completion of the most extreme yacht the company has ever built.

Her, aesthetics, control systems, rig, generating and propulsion systems use the most advanced engineering, building and design techniques available in yachting.

Baltic Yachts was chosen to build this ultra-lightweight yacht because her owner believed it has the track record, design and engineering ability and, above all, highly skilled workforce to meet the immense challenges Baltic 111 Custom sets.

What a birthday present!

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BALTIC 110 ZEMI IS CHRISTENED BY HER OWNERS AS SHE TAKES TO THE WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JAKOBSTAD

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 MiG 3 main list    +

 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 3 172IAP For the Party of Bolsheviks with Nikolai Sheyenko May 1942 01

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3

National origin:- Soviet Union Role:- Fighter Interceptor Manufacturer:- Mikoyan-Gurevich Designer:- First flight:- 29th October 1940 Introduction:- 1941 Status:- Retired 1945 Produced:- 1940-1941 Number built:- 3,422 Primary users:- Soviet Air Forces (VVS); Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO); Soviet Naval Aviation Developed from:- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 Variants:- Mikoyan-Gurevich I-211 Operational history MiG-3s were delivered to frontline fighter regiments beginning in the spring of 1941 and were a handful for pilots accustomed to the lower-performance and docile Polikarpov I-152 and I-153 biplanes and the Polikarpov I-16 monoplane. It remained tricky and demanding to fly even after the extensive improvements made over the MiG-1. Many fighter regiments had not kept pace in training pilots to handle the MiG and the rapid pace of deliveries resulted in many units having more MiGs than trained pilots during the German invasion. By 1 June 1941, 1,029 MIG-3s were on strength, but there were only 494 trained pilots. In contrast to the untrained pilots of the 31st Fighter Regiment, those of the 4th Fighter Regiment were able to claim three German high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft shot down before war broke out in June 1941. However high-altitude combat of this sort was to prove to be uncommon on the Eastern Front where most air-to-air engagements were at altitudes well below 5,000 metres (16,000 ft). At these altitudes the MiG-3 was outclassed by the Bf 109 in all respects, and even by other new Soviet fighters such as the Yakovlev Yak-1. Furthermore, the shortage of ground-attack aircraft in 1941 forced it into that role as well, for which it was totally unsuited. Pilot Alexander E. Shvarev recalled: "The Mig was perfect at altitudes of 4,000 m and above. But at lower altitudes it was, as they say, 'a cow'. That was the first weakness. The second was its armament: weapons failure dogged this aircraft. The third weakness was its gunsights, which were inaccurate: that's why we closed in as much as we could and fired point blank." On 22 June 1941, most MiG-3s and MiG-1s were in the border military districts of the Soviet Union. The Leningrad Military District had 164, 135 were in the Baltic Military District, 233 in the Western Special Military District, 190 in the Kiev Military District and 195 in the Odessa Military District for a total of 917 on hand, of which only 81 were non-operational. An additional 64 MiGs were assigned to Naval Aviation, 38 in the Air Force of the Baltic Fleet and 26 in the Air Force of the Black Sea Fleet. The 4th and 55th Fighter Regiments had most of the MiG-3s assigned to the Odessa Military District and their experiences on the first day of the war may be taken as typical. The 4th, an experienced unit, shot down a Romanian Bristol Blenheim reconnaissance bomber, confirmed by postwar research, and lost one aircraft which crashed into an obstacle on takeoff. The 55th was much less experienced with the MiG-3 and claimed three aircraft shot down, although recent research confirms only one German Henschel Hs 126 was 40% damaged, and suffered three pilots killed and nine aircraft lost. The most unusual case was the pair of MiG-3s dispatched from the 55th on a reconnaissance mission to PloieÅŸti that failed to properly calculate their fuel consumption and both were forced to land when they ran out of fuel. Most of the MiG-3s assigned to the interior military districts were transferred to the PVO where their lack of performance at low altitudes was not so important. On 10 July 299 were assigned to the PVO, the bulk of them belonging to the 6th PVO Corps at Moscow, while only 293 remained with the VVS, and 60 with the Naval Air Forces, a total of only 652 despite deliveries of several hundred aircraft. By 1 October, on the eve of the German offensive towards Moscow codenamed Operation Typhoon, only 257 were assigned to VVS units, 209 to the PVO, and 46 to the Navy, a total of only 512, a decrease of 140 fighters since 10 July, despite deliveries of over a thousand aircraft in the intervening period. By 5 December, the start of the Soviet counter-offensive that drove the Germans back from the gates of Moscow, the Navy had 33 MiGs on hand, the VVS 210, and the PVO 309. This was a total of 552, an increase of only 40 aircraft from 1 October. Over the winter of 1941-42 the Soviets transferred all of the remaining MiG-3s to the Navy and PVO so that on 1 May 1942 none were left on strength with the VVS. By 1 May 1942, Naval Aviation had 37 MiGs on strength, while the PVO had 323 on hand on 10 May. By 1 June 1944, the Navy had transferred all its aircraft to the PVO, which reported only 17 on its own strength, and all of those were gone by 1 January 1945. Undoubtedly more remained in training units and the like, but none were assigned to combat units by then.

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This New Yacht Is Sailing to Gorgeous, Lesser-known Ports in the Caribbean Sea — and I Was on Board With 'Below Deck's' Chef Ben

Emerald Cruises' new Emerald Sakara ship brings guests to smaller ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, with an onboard marina and the occasional Bravo-lebrity.

Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler , Skift , and The Huffington Post .

The Staterooms

Bars and restaurants, where emerald sakara sails, shore excursions, amenities and entertainment, family-friendly offerings, accessibility.

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

With a couple dozen guests looking on, chef Ben Robinson was showing how to slice and dice a fresh red snapper. “You kind of feel him — but you don’t fondle him,” said Robinson, the fan favorite from the Bravo reality show Below Deck, who’s always ready with a quip. As he pulled a perfect filet off the bone, he explained how to salt the fish and that there’s no more important relationship than the one you have with your fishmonger. “My advice is to always be friendly,” he noted. “I like to support my mom-and-pop [businesses]. If you become familiar with them, they’ll say, ‘Hey, I got this in this morning.’”

The cooking demo, which also featured a ceviche how-to and tips on knife sharpening, was one of many “Chef Ben” moments on my trip aboard Emerald Sakara . It’s the newest 100-passenger vessel from Emerald Cruises, which launched in the fall of 2023, a sibling vessel to the Emerald Azzurra .

During an eight-day voyage in March from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, the reality personality was definitely one of the star attractions. Robinson spent several evenings in the galley, creating special dishes such as a panko-crusted veal striploin stuffed with pesto.

He also hosted a well-attended Q&A about his life in the kitchen — and spent plenty of time connecting with fans, many of whom booked the trip specifically to chop it up with Below Deck alum.

“We definitely booked because of Ben,” said Shannon Welnel , a Montana-based travel advisor who had lots of praise for his cuisine — and the yacht-like atmosphere on board the 100-passenger ship. Other guests I spoke with admitted they hadn’t seen much Below Deck, but were intrigued by the chance to chill with a Bravo-lebrity.

Emerald Sakara

• With a max of just 100 passengers, Emerald Sakara feels at times like a private yacht, with no lines and no crowds, and outstanding service from a highly experienced crew.
• Minimalist rooms recall the stripped down aesthetic of Miami Beach or Mykonos, Greece, with pops of color from Missoni Home accents and a sleek-yet-functional bathroom with plenty of storage space.
• While this small ship has but one restaurant and one poolside cafe, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to meals, whether you’re hitting the breakfast or lunch buffet or choosing from the dinner menu.
• The onboard marina, which is open in favorable weather conditions, offers watersports and swimming off the stern of the ship.
• Easy to understand and mostly inclusive pricing covers meals, beverages at mealtime, many tours, and surprisingly speedy Wi-Fi.

The intimate-ship vibe was also one reason the chef wanted to hop aboard. “This definitely has more of a yacht vibe than any other [ship] I've been on,” Robinson told me one afternoon. “A hundred passengers is not a lot,” he said. “I've been on boats with 2,500 passengers, and you really do feel like you're anonymous. But here, the service is great, and you really are treated as an individual and someone important. And you kind of lose that on the big boats.”

While Robinson doesn’t have immediate plans to join another Emerald cruise, he told me that there were plenty of parallels between his life on megayachts and what the Sakara offers its guests. “It’s been incredible,” he said.

I had to agree. The Sakara certainly has much to offer, both in spite of its smaller size and because of it. While it’s available to book by the cabin, like any cruise ship, it still manages to feel at times like a private yacht, particularly when it sails to less-commonly visited ports such as Culebra, on Puerto Rico, or St. Bart’s. In the latter, we dropped anchor near Eric Schmidt’s yacht, Whisper , and had the whole day to explore the glitzy island and its capital, Gustavia. (After a drive around in the morning, I managed to catch the beautiful sunset from the lovely little Shell Beach, right in town.)

“The benefit of being on a small cruise ship like this one is that we can enter small ports and areas where others can’t,” said Robert Kuznin, the captain of Sakara , who previously worked with several cruise lines, including Paul Gauguin, Seabourn, and Virgin Voyages. “For example, when we dropped anchor in Esperanza Bay,” he explained about our stop at the island of Vieques, “there were only two meters under the keel — and that was the shallowest I’ve ever been!”

Courtesy of Emerald Cruises

The ability to go places that larger ships can’t was also on display one morning on St. Kitts, one of the final stops of my trip. It was still early in the morning, but already four mega-ships were docked in Basseterre, the island’s capital. Instead of tying up next to them on the busy cruise pier, we dropped anchor just off the beach in South Friar’s Bay, a long sweep of sand in the island’s southern reaches. There were no crowds to contend with, no paperwork hassles, no touts offering dodgy cab rides. A five-minute tender ride to the beach was all it took to meet our local guide. Time from leaving the breakfast buffet to our first stop? About 25 minutes. Even the most efficient mega-ship would struggle to make that happen — and they can’t drop anchor right off the one of the best beaches on the island. 

Other moments aboard Sakara felt like something out of Below Deck . One afternoon, I made my way to the yacht’s marina, a platform at the stern stocked with lounge chairs, refreshments, and water toys such as a floating trampoline and inflatable sea kayaks. I jumped off the stern into the Caribbean and then tried out the ship’s Seabob, a floating gadget that’s like a cross between a Jet Ski and an electric scooter.

As I continued my joy ride, I could see another vessel anchored just north of us. Turns out, it was David Geffen’s private yacht , Rising Sun . Of course, we were there first.

Here’s a closer look at all the amenities of the Emerald Sakara , which sails seasonally in coastal waters in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Laurent BENOIT/Courtesy of Emerald Cruises

Welcome to your starship: the stripped down, white-and-gray cabins on Sakara feel sci-fi chic, particularly when the accent lighting is switched on. They’re also, thankfully, spacious and super functional, with ample storage space (including a safe), a small minibar, a coffee station, and a clever headboard built-in that’s a great spot for your charging devices and water bottle. Most of the 50 rooms and suites have verandas; ocean-view staterooms are the exception. Bathrooms are just big enough, with plenty of storage, and are stocked with Espa products and a hair dryer. My cabin, 421, was a 300-square-foot balcony suite toward the aft of the ship on deck four: I never once heard noise from the surrounding cabins or in the hallway, though I did occasionally notice sounds and vibrations from the vessel, something that is common on even the largest of ships. A note on power plugs: my stateroom had U.S.-style outlets throughout as well as USB-A charging ports on either side of the bed, a nice touch.

Because Sakara is smaller than most cruise ships, it can’t compete on sheer volume of bars and restaurants. Still, the food on board is solid. La Cucina is the only true dining room, with both indoor and outdoor seating; it has somewhat limited hours compared to the round-the-clock dining options on bigger vessels. That being said, I certainly didn’t go hungry: a breakfast buffet is complemented by traditional à la minute options such as omelets and pancakes; lunch is also buffet style with a carving station. Dinner is more restaurant style, with options from an ever-changing daily menu plus always available classics such as Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, grilled salmon, and spaghetti bolognese on offer. (Many dietary restrictions and preferences can be accommodated.)

On my voyage, chef Robinson put together several special plates, including what might’ve been the best dish of the week: a sesame-crusted seared yellowfin tuna with celeriac puree. The Below Deck star also put together a panko veal striploin roulade one night and, another evening, offered a citrus-cured hamachi with, in a touch of molecular gastronomy, “mango spheres.” Elsewhere on board, a poolside cafe, Aqua Café, has quick bites like burgers and flatbreads, as well as sweets and coffee pulled from a Cimbali espresso machine. The cocktails served in the Amici Lounge and the Sky Bar were consistently excellent, mixed by a talented team of pros who’ve previously worked on Seabourn ships and in some of Dubai’s top hotels. One weaker spot was the selection of wine on board: pours at mealtimes are included, but they didn’t rock my boat. A short list of “chairman’s wines,” available at extra cost, included a couple by-the-bottle finds such as 2013 vintage Cristal ($650) and some mid-tier Bordeaux and Burgundy options.

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

Though small, this ship isn’t an expedition yacht. Rather, it’s specifically designed for warm-weather coastal cruising, meaning it spends the lion’s share of its time in places such as the Caribbean and, in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months, the Mediterranean. My trip aboard was spent entirely in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, where passages between ports were short and the seas were often calm. (We did occasionally encounter some swells of up to two meters, or 6.6 feet. I saw many guests wearing medicated patches to prevent motion sickness throughout the trip.) Sakara typically spends a season of several months in a given region, with a variety of cruise lengths offered, ranging from six to 24 days. In 2024, the ship will spend April through November in the Mediterranean. Sakara will return to the Caribbean at the end of the year, through April 2025.

Tours off the ship were a strong suit for Emerald, at least on my voyage. Most stops offered a variety of activities, ranging from a simple transfer to a nearby beach to a full-on, multi-hour tour. Usually, I found myself ashore with a very small group of folks — fewer than a dozen — and all the guides Emerald arranged were true pros. Passengers raved about a kayak paddle through the bioluminescent bay on Vieques, something I sadly didn’t try myself. I did, however, enjoy a short guided hike on the island of St. John, to the pristine beach along Salomon Bay, which was all but deserted. The organization of excursions felt flawless to me, thanks no doubt to the crew and shore excursion manager, Pilar Atencio. Worth a mention, too, were Atencio’s detailed briefings on what to expect each day. While these sorts of “port talks'' are common on ships of all sizes, they felt particularly useful on Sakara because of how intimate our groups were; many passengers made a point of attending the pre-dinner talks every night, for info on what to expect about our anchorage, historical background on each island, and detailed info about what each tour offering would entail.

Call it small but mighty: Sakara has all the essentials, which is a bit of feat for a ship this size. A cozy spa has wellness and beauty treatments, as well as a small hairstyling and facial studio; morning yoga and stretching are available on deck. The fitness center, with a few cardio machines, a Peloton bike, and a variety of weights and other gear gets the job done. The smallish pool and a top-deck whirlpool were lovely — though I spent most of my time in the ocean: the Sakara ’s marina deck is a key feature, and it was open several afternoons during my trip. It’s like the greatest pool party you’ve ever been to, complete with piña coladas, sea kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and a trampoline, right off the stern of the ship. It is, truly, as much fun as it sounds like, though it is subject to the whims of weather and ocean currents. Also available in some destinations are e-bikes from Gocycle, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis; during my trip, several guests gave them a spin on the island of Vieques. Sakara also carries a ton of snorkeling gear and beach towels, which passengers can borrow whenever they like. In terms of performances, this isn’t the vessel for Broadway-style shows, but guitarist Jamie Ferguson and voyage director Nathalie Millet added plenty of live music to the trip.

The youngest passengers I spoke with on my cruise were in their 20s — and they were traveling with their parents. Sakara is perhaps the perfect ship for families traveling with adult children, since it offers such a diverse array of activities to suit different tastes and activity levels, while visiting intriguing destinations. The ship is also intimate enough that everybody can gather easily for meals — or a swim off the stern — without fighting the crowds common on larger vessels. On the other hand, Sakara is probably not the best choice for families with younger children: there’s no kid-specific programming, and you’re likely to be the only ones aboard with little ones. “Emerald Cruises yachts are recommended for people aged 12 and up, and they must be accompanied by and share a cabin with an adult aged 18 or [older],” a spokesperson shared with T+L.

Sakara is probably best described as somewhat accessible: the ship has elevators to all decks and the crew was, on my trip, very accommodating to those with mobility challenges. There are handrails throughout, and bathrooms feature shower grab bars. That being said, several areas of the ship — the outdoor dining terrace, for example — require navigating at least one step even once you’ve reached the deck in question by elevator. “Due to the nature and size of the ships, wheelchairs and scooters are not allowed to be used on board,” a spokesperson told T+L. When the ship is at anchor, it’s only possible to go ashore by tender or Zodiac, both of which could be challenging for those with limited mobility. As Emerald’s FAQ explains: “Guests with limited mobility will require help from a companion, since the crew is limited.” Also of note: many announcements are made only by loudspeaker with no hearing-impaired alternative.

Seven-night sailings on Emerald Sakara start from $2,775 per person, and you can book at emeraldcruises.com .